HSK 5 · VERSION 2.0#93
Let Alone with “gèng búyòng shuō...”
更不用说……
How it works
更不用说…… (gèng búyòng shuō...) means “let alone...” or “not to mention...” It introduces an even more extreme case that becomes obvious from the previous statement.
Compared with 别说……就是…… (bié shuō...jiù shì...), 更不用说…… (gèng búyòng shuō...) is often cleaner and slightly more formal.
The pattern
Clause 1, 更不用说 (gèng búyòng shuō) + Clause 2
Example sentences
他连最基本的规则都没弄清楚,更不用说独立完成这个项目了。
He has not even understood the most basic rules, let alone complete this project independently.
这点儿钱连日常开销都不够,更不用说存下来买房了。
This little money is not even enough for daily expenses, let alone saving up to buy a house.
他平时连中文都不太愿意开口,更不用说在会上用中文做报告了。
He is usually not even very willing to speak Chinese, let alone give a report in Chinese at a meeting.
Key point
This structure is excellent for formal and logical emphasis in both speaking and writing.